Apple Becomes Top Mobile-Phone Vendor in U.S. During Fourth Quarter

Apple reached a major milestone in the fourth quarter, becoming the No. 1 mobile-phone vendor by volume in the U.S. for the first time ever, as it benefited from the huge sales growth of the iPhone, according to Strategy Analytics.

Samsung, which had held the top spot since 2008, came in a close second but couldn’t match a surge by Apple at year’s end amid its launch of the iPhone 5.

Strategy Analytics, a research and consulting firm, estimated that Apple shipped 17.7 million mobile phones to grab a record 34% of the U.S. market during the quarter, up from 12.8 million units shipped and a 25.4% share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Samsung, meanwhile, shipped 16.8 million mobile phones for a 32.3% market share, up from 13.5 million units and 26.9% in 2011.

However, Strategy Analytics said U.S. mobile-phone shipments for all of 2012 fell 11% to 166.9 million units from 186.8 million units in 2011, as economic uncertainty and tighter carrier upgrade policies depressed unit sales during the first three quarters of the year.

The recent numbers come as Apple’s stock has fallen sharply amid concerns of demand for its iPhone 5 and its flat revenue during the holiday quarter. Samsung, the market leader in smartphones, has been able to raise its status against Apple with a combination of engineering prowess and clever marketing to provide phones to rival the blockbuster iPhone.

Apple’s shares were down 1.1% at $450.54, down 24% over the past three months.